Board Backs Financing For Orlando Arena

The financing deal for the downtown Orlando arena cleared its next-to- last obstacle Tuesday when an Orange County tourism advisory board approved it 6 to 2.

The action came despite warnings from the county's chief financial officer, Comptroller Tom Locker, that speeding up construction would lead to deficits at the Orange County Convention and Civic Center and the arena.

''I just don't want people coming back four or five years from now and pointing fingers,'' Locker said.

Last year, 34 percent of the convention center's business came from concerts and other arena-type events, and loss of that business to a competitor could mean continued deficits, Locker said.

''I think there is a time for an arena in this community,'' Locker told the county's nine-member Tourist Development Council. But ''I don't think that time is right this second.''

Told of Locker's comments, Orlando Mayor Bill Frederick said that those public comments contradicted the private encouragement Locker has given him and other city officials during the recent negotiations over the arena.

Orlando has been ''misdirected by Tom Locker,'' Frederick charged, adding that he had feared that Locker was working behind the scenes to kill any city- county deal. ''I'm disappointed to confirm that fact.''

''I'm sorry he feels that way,'' Locker responded. He said some of his enthusiasm waned when the price estimates for the project jumped from $40 million to $60 million. Locker said it is his job as the county's elected financial watchdog to point out the potential for deficits at the convention center. ''If he thinks that's an improper attitude, then so be it.''

The deficit concerned at least one council member. Orlando restaurateur Larry Leckart called the deal ''a bad business decision,'' and said he voted against it because it could involve citizens in a ''losing proposition.'' Hotelier Albert Kelly also voted against it, but did not say why.

Aside from the deficit issue, which Frederick said was overblown, city officials said they were encouraged by the council vote and hope the county commission will approve the deal at their meeting Monday, in time to meet the deadline imposed by state Sen. George Stuart, D-Orlando.

Stuart has said he will block any legislative effort to allow Orange County to increase its 2 percent resort tax -- the source of funding for the arena, convention center expansion and tourism promotions -- unless the city and county agree by May 21.

The 15-page agreement, which was approved Monday by the Orlando City Council, states that Orange County will set aside up to $50 million from the resort tax to let the city build a downtown arena, but only after the county has arranged for financing an expansion of the convention center.